Conservation group protests Rehberg support of Border Patrol access bill

The day after U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., voted in favor of a bill expanding Border Patrol access to national parks, forests and wilderness areas, a group of protesters put up a fence by the door of his Missoula staff office.

The 15 members of Montana Conservation Voters chanted “No land grab,” and waved signs objecting to HR1505, authored by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and co-sponsored by Rehberg. The bill would allow Homeland Security agents to drive vehicles and establish bases on any federal lands within 100 miles of the Canadian or Mexican borders, “and ensures that federal land managers do not impede the Border Patrol’s efforts to secure our border on public lands,” according to a statement by the House Natural Resources Committee Republican Press Office.